One sentence guide

The whole season at a glance. One sentence per show, a track to hear, no heavy reading.

Puccini

La Bohème on New Year's Eve

31 December 2026
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House

Set in snow-kissed Paris, Puccini’s timeless classic Bohemian love story of youth, beauty, passion and heartache kicks off the New Year’s celebrations.

A must-see if you love Tearjerker films, beautiful stagecraft, gorgeous singing and iconic Sydney experiences.

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New Year's Eve Opera Gala

31 December 2026
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Dress to the nines for a glamorous night of soaring arias, harbour views and celebration beneath the iconic sails.

A must-see if you love big voices, big laughs, glamour and iconic Sydney experiences.

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Puccini

La Bohème

2 January – 17 March 2027
Sydney Opera House

Vibrant | Romantic | Poetic

Puccini’s classic Bohemian love story is about youth, beauty, passion and heartache. This shimmering new production is set in snow-kissed Paris.

A must-see if you love RENT the musical, snowflakes and slow dances, bittersweet love stories.

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Mozart

The Magic Flute

13 January – 13 March 2027, Sydney Opera House
13 – 28 May 2027, Arts Centre Melbourne

Magical | High-flying | Funny

Set out on a surprising journey into a magical world in this new production of Mozart’s famous opera, packed with fabulous, larger-than-life characters.

A must-see if you love Fantasy, magical stories like Narnia, famous tunes, H.G. Wells and Jules Verne.

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Donizetti

The Elixir of Love

29 January – 12 March 2027
Sydney Opera House

Virtuosic | Laugh-out-loud | Quirky

Donizetti’s sparkling romantic comedy is a love letter to high notes and high jinks, in an iconic production by Simon Phillips.

A must-see if you love Feel-good musicals with witty lyrics, sets and costumes that highlight the magic of theatre, distinctly Australian stories.

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Poulenc & Ravel

La Voix humaine & L’enfant et les sortilèges

5 February 2027
Sydney Opera House

Punchy | Inventive | Fantastical

A double bill of one-act French operas at the cutting edge of opera. Performed by the Opera Australia Orchestra with international opera star Anna Caterina Antonacci and a starry Australian cast.

A must-see if you love A varied night out, fantastical scenarios and intense solo performances.

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Mills

Eucalyptus

22 – 25 March 2027
Sydney Opera House

Mythic | Intriguing | Contemporary

A new opera based on Murray Bail’s acclaimed novel, Eucalyptus is an Australian fairytale, unusual love story and poetic ode to trees.

A must-see if you love Contemporary opera, Australian stories, strong female leads.

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Puccini

Turandot

5 – 27 May 2027
Arts Centre Melbourne

Epic | Passionate | Resonant

Turandot fiercely protects her heart. This new production of Puccini’s grand opera features monumental sets, immersive visuals, mesmerising dance and opera’s electrifying aria ‘Nessun dorma’.

A must-see if you love Music that gives you goosebumps, contemporary dance, mythic fairytales reimagined for today.

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Leah Purcell & George Palmer

The Drover's Wife

21 – 29 May 2027
Arts Centre Melbourne

Raw | Expansive | Groundbreaking

A new opera based on Leah Purcell’s groundbreaking adaptation of Henry Lawson’s classic short story. Emotional melodies, lush orchestration and operatic grandeur meet contemporary Aboriginal storytelling.

A must-see if you love Australian stories, outback thrillers, Henry Lawson, contemporary treatments of classic works.

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Gilbert & Sullivan

The Pirates of Penzance

1 July – 27 August 2027
Sydney Opera House

Side-splitting | Swashbuckling | Toe-tapping

Gilbert and Sullivan’s sparkling masterpiece sails into the Sydney Opera House with its witty wordplay, rollicking rhythms and sensational tunes.

A must-see if you love Clever musicals with catchy tunes like Hamilton, pirates adventuring on the high seas, comedies like The Simpsons and feel-good theatre.

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Gounod

Faust

1 July – 4 August 2027
Sydney Opera House

Devilish | Dazzling | Dangerous

Gounod’s tale of a man selling his soul to the devil is Grand Opera at its grandest, with huge scenes on an epic scale, and directed by Sir David McVicar.

A must-see if you love Gothic romances, seductive villains and glamorous period drama.

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Verdi

A Masked Ball

23 July – 7 August 2027
Sydney Opera House

Thrilling | Tense | Tragic

A fast-moving political thriller where Riccardo risks everything to pursue his best friend’s wife. An all-star cast led by Nicole Car perform Verdi’s powerful score.

A must-see if you love Fast-moving and tragic opera, powerful singers, impressive sets and costumes, Game of Thrones.

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Desandre & Dunford

12 October 2027, Melbourne Recital Hall
18 October 2027, City Recital Hall, Sydney

Timeless | Enchanting | Exquisite

Love is in the air when mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre and lutenist Thomas Dunford take an idyll across three centuries of French song.

A must-see if you love Historic music, intimate concerts of musical brilliance, seeing the stars of the Classical world.

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Wagner

Tannhäuser

5 – 14 November 2027
Arts Centre Melbourne

Epic | Seductive | Climactic

Experience the ravishing score and earth-shattering climax of Wagner’s epic tale of lust, love and redemption in a blockbuster new production by Sir David McVicar.

A must-see if you love Wagner!, insightful directors who offer food for thought, gorgeous music with extraordinary performers, psychological thrillers like Black Swan.

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Beethoven Symphony No. 9

13 November 2027
Arts Centre Melbourne

Monumental | Uplifting | Grand

From its mysterious opening to the famous Ode to Joy finale, Beethoven’s towering masterpiece is one of the most extraordinary achievements in music.

A must-see if you love Classical music’s greatest hits, the full forces of an orchestra and choir, the Ode to Joy section of Carols by Candlelight.

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Musical

My Fair Lady

From November 2026
Arts Centre Melbourne

Witty | Transformative | Charming

Celebrating 70 dazzling years since its debut, Lerner and Loewe’s sparkling gem of theatrical history returns to the Sydney Opera House. Directed by Karen Johnson Mortimer based on Julie Andrews’ acclaimed 2016 production.

A must-see if you love Julie Andrews, Pretty Woman, sharp humour, and spectacular staging.

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Mozart

Don Giovanni National Tour

Mozart’s masterpiece is hitting the road, touring Australian cities and regions.

A must-see if you love stories where women get the last laugh, the movie Amadeus.

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